Hey gang: Sorry, I've been away for awhile but I just had to report this information to everyone who is planning on hunting Elk this year. A good friend of mine who lives near the Oak Creek area of Colorado was fortunate enough to have both he and his wife draw a cow elk tag apeice. During opening weekend they both were set up in a great afternoon feeding area and soon had elk all over them. My buddy's wife soon had a nice cow feeding within 45 yards of her and after careful aim popped a cap and sent a 295 grain Powerbelt Aerotip on its way. To the shock and dismay of my friend after following a heavy blood trail for almost 1/2 of a mile they could not find the hit elk. The very next day same place, same situation, another cow elk meanders in within 50 yards and this time he placed a perfect shot right behind the shoulder with the same load (100gr of Pyrodex RS and a 295gr Powerbelt Aerotip). This time the elk did not act as if it was even hit! After a quick and quiet speed load he sent another round into the cow which was now standing almost totally broadside at 85 yards. At the second shot the cow buckled at the hit then took off carrying the rest of the herd with her. Since it was getting close to dark they decided to take up the trail the following morning. At first light they returned to the area and quickly found a good blood trail. Again after following a lengthy blood trail the blood simply stopped and they both were on the edge of tears vowing never to hunt for elk with a smokepole again! On a hunch they followed a heavily used trail leading downhill to an oak brush feeding area where they found the dead cow which was now alost 3 miles from where he originally shot her! My friend has taken all kinds of game both big and small with various types of weapons. After this situation he moved to the following load: 120gr of Pyrodex RS over a 375 grain MaxiBall. Upon dressing out the cow elk, both Powerbelts hit on the money but whether the lack of velocity (it certainly was not the range)or bullet weight, neither bullet produced an exit hole. You have to remember that Elk are tough animals and require a well placed hard hitting bullet which carries enough velocity and weight to produce both an entry and exit wound. Good Luck to everyone this fall and remember to know the game you are hunting and think safety the whole time your out there in God's country.

I am assuming these elk were shot with a .50 cal.=(SD .168) ? If a .54, the SD would be even lower; but, it appears that perhaps the results would have been better if they had been using a heavier Powerbelt bullet. I recently saw a TV show in which the Powerbelt was used for elk, but they used a .50 cal. 444 grain slug (SD .253), NOT the 295 grain!! I would be interested to know whether either of these bullets hit heavy bone, rather than just ribs, and also, about how deep did these bullets penetrate? There's NO DOUBT AT ALL that the Maxiballs will penetrate enough!! <img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle>

Keep yore powder dry!!

Well, I'll throw a bit of a curveball here. I just got back from Pagosa Springs CO with elk meat in the cooler. I used an Encore 209 in 50 caliber with 140 grains of Triple seven and 348 grain Powerbelt Aerotips. One shot at about 75 yards, my cow took two steps and tipped over. The cow was walking directly at me and I put the Powerbelt into her chest. There was an exit wound and massive amounts of blood to track if I would have had to go more than the two steps she took.
I'd use this load again for elk and hopefully I'll get a chance again next year.

Bill the Dog

Bill, it sounds like the 348-grain .50 is &quot;ADEQUATE&quot;!!

Keep yore powder dry!!

ELDEGUELLO:HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU I AM SHOOTING A THUNDERHAWH MADE BY T/C.POWDER IS PYRODEX SELECT 110 GRAINS WITH A SOLID LEAD BULLET MADE BY HARVESTER 330 GRAINS FLAT NOSE KEITH SABOT.HOW WOULD THIS BULLET DO IN TAKING A ELK.JUST WAS WONDERING WILL IT DO THE JOB.

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lonewolf, if those 330-grain solid lead bullets are .44 or .45 caliber,(I assume they are, since they are sabot rounds), they should penetrate well enough for elk. The old Gould 330-grain (Lyman No. 457122) .45/70 bullet was considered very deadly on game up to and including grizzly bears. The one you are shooting should be as good, particularly if it is a Keith-style bullet!

Keep yore powder dry!!

eldeguello:they are 451 dia.solid lead bullet sabot.what do they mean by wound is created by displaced tissue spray?@ cold tested to -10 degrees (f) just a question

lonewolf, sounds like thy mean the bullets don't expand much or fragment, and that the wound channel, other than the bullet path per se, is caused by displaced tissue and bone fragments, rather than the bullet or parts of the bullet.

Keep yore powder dry!!

eldequello:would you say this sabot will do the job on whitetails ?will it just punch a 1/2 hole threw the deer no mushrooming or flating out on the lead?